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CRAZY ABOUT BIKES IN NOCO SHARING THE ROAD WITH RESPECT PICTURE YOURSELF IN THE SHIFTING SHOTS PHOTO GALLERY
2019 GU ID E TO N ORT H E R N CO LO R A DO B I CYC L I N G C U LTURE & E V E NTS
TRAIL STATUS CHECK THE 2019 BIKE CALENDAR
PIT STOPS THE ART OF CYCLING
FIND IT IN THE BIG BIKE DIRECTORY GUIDE TO NORTHERN COLORADO BICYCLING CULTURE AND EVENTS
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1981 Jessup Farm Drive Fort Collins, CO 80525
on Timberline between Drake and ProspectÂ
(970) 449 5595
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GUIDE TO NORTHERN COLORADO BICYCLING CULTURE AND EVENTS
Sales Service all brands Sizing and professional fitting Rentals
contents FROM THE EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 OUR 2019 CONTRIBUTORS . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
FEATURES
20 R ESPECT
Don’t leave home without it
28 W ho’s trail is it?
Status check on mountain biking in NoCo
Meet the writers
PEDAL APPEAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Wear it, eat it, use it
BIKEWAYS & WISE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Trail scoop, know before you go, Ride on NoCo, Fort Collins features, Loveland’s latest, go Greeley, regional riding, kids and bikes go together
PIT STOPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 The are of bicycling, have a HeART, three-dimensional discoveries, some take art for granite, art in the Fort
THE LAST MILE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Biking from homelessness to home
24 Crazy about bikes How did northern Colorado get here?
31 The BIG Bike Directory
WHO'S ON THE COVER? Clint, his wife, Ellie, and their six children (three are on the cover - Addison - 9, Colton 11, Caleb 11) love everything that cycling as a family has to offer, including the challenge of a steep hill and encouraging each other to push harder. But most of all, they like being outside together and feel bikes provide a super fun and rewarding way to do that.
40 Shifting shots photo-gallery
44
Bike Calendar
Cycling events & classes
GUIDE TO NORTHERN COLORADO BICYCLING CULTURE AND EVENTS
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REFLECTIVE RIDES PHOTO BY CHERI SCHONFELD
KIM SHARPE
THE MERCURY BARELY REGISTERED above 32 degrees Fahrenheit, but Gracie (my Trek Lexa) and I had just been reunited after a few weeks apart. (I live in the Pacific Northwest when I’m not in northern Colorado.) A near-freezing temperature wasn’t going to keep us from riding. Besides, the sun was shining and that always makes outdoor adventures a bit better. So, after making sure Gracie was ready to roll, I geared up, then saddled up for a frosty tour along the Poudre Trail east of I-25. Along our route I noticed many birds and animals, scenic sandstone bluffs and granite mile markers, which are mentioned in the Pit Stops section. When I came to street intersections, I noticed how motorists acknowledged my presence with a nod as we navigated our joint meeting politely. It would have made Megan Hottman and Maureen Massida, authors of the R.E.S.P.E.C.T. article, proud. I thought about NoCo’s paved and soft- or single-track trail systems that give so many people so much pleasure; without them, many people wouldn’t ride at all, while others would be forced to ride somewhere else, which makes no sense when we live in a world-class biking mecca. Carol Busch’s story speaks to this. I also thought about all of my “bikey” friends—people who work hard to contribute to NoCo’s crazy-good bike culture. Meg Dunn’s piece documents the history of that culture, which is quite interesting. Finally, as I gazed at majestic Longs Peak draped in its snowy coat and the foothills bowing down below it, I thought about how good it felt to be home. There’s no place like it, as Jessy Nelson writes about in The Last Mile. I hope you enjoy reading this issue of Ride as much as all of us enjoyed piecing it togeter. I also hope you take time to pedal. It’s so good for the mind and soul.
Kim Sharpe Editor
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2019 GUIDE TO NORTHERN COLORADO BICYCLING CULTURE & EVENTS PUBLISHER Scott Titterington scott.rmpublishing@gmail.com EDITOR Kim Sharpe kim.kbccommunications@gmail.com COPY EDITOR Kristin Titterington kristin.rmpublishing@gmail.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Emily Zaynard emily.rmpublishing@gmail.com ADVERTISING SALES DIRECTOR Greg Hoffman greg.rmpublishing@gmail.com DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Susan Pettit COVER PHOTO Nick Markiewicz courtesy of Front Range Ride Guides CONTRIBUTOR PORTRAITS Cheri Schonfeld courtesy of Sky’s Open Design PROFILE PORTRAITS Coleen Elliott, coleenelliott.me CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Carol Busch , Sylvia Cranmer, Meg Dunn Megan Hottman , Maureen Massidda Jessy Nelson, Kim Sharpe ROCKY MOUNTAIN PUBLISHING
PO Box 740, Fort Collins, CO 80522 (970) 221-9210 www.RMParent.com
Ride 2019 is a special publication of Rocky Mountain Publishing, Inc. Publication of this magazine does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised. RMP reserves the right to refuse any advertisement for any reason. The opinions expressed by contributors or writers do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Rocky Mountain Publishing. ©2019 Rocky Mountain Publishing, Inc. All rightsreserved. Reproduction without express written permission is prohibited.
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| OUR 2018 CONTRIBUTORS |
PHOTO BY CHERI SCHONFELD
MEG DUNN’S favorite thing about bicycling is the overwhelming sense of freedom it provides. Her biggest pet peeve are bike racks that aren’t made for bikes with front baskets. When she’s not pushing pedals, she’s pounding keys writing content for her www.UrbanFortCollins.com blog.
SYLVIA CRANMER has been a get-around-by-bike gal for the past 40+ years. She is a League of American Bicyclists certified instructor, and serves on the bicycle advisory committees for both the City of Fort Collins and CSU—through which she helps develop bike-friendly policies and infrastructure.
NOT PICTURED
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GUIDE TO NORTHERN COLORADO BICYCLING CULTURE AND EVENTS
CAROL BUSCH When she’s not out hunting for powder or trying to hurl her Transition downhill or scaring away all the fish in the Poudre River, Carol is dreaming up her next adventure, inventing her next meatball recipe, and working in communications at CSU. Born and raised in Fort Collins, Carol encourages all trail users to do their part in keeping local trails healthy, open and intact.
JESSY NELSON, “Greeley’s Turn Around Bikes” shop coordinator and founder of Noco Women’s Cycling Team, believes biking helps teens and adults experience their potential and practice courage for life’s uphills, muddy barriers, and scary descents.
MEGAN HOTTMAN rides her bike more than she drives her car and has been known to ride in heels and a suit. An attorney in Golden, Colo., she represents injured cyclists and advocates to get more people on bikes. Megan encourages everyone to use their bikes as a form of transportation. In 2018, she rode 10,000 miles!
KIM SHARPE writes for a living and lives to ride. She’s blessed with two bikes—one she rides around NoCo and the other around the San Juan Islands in Wash. She’s dreaming (scheming?) about a bike trip from either coast to coast or around the world! Life is good.
MAUREEN MASSIDDA is new to cycling advocacy work, but not new to cycling. She writes articles for Hottman Law Office to bring awareness to issues involving cycling laws, safety and education.
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| PEDAL APPEAL | KIM SHARPE
WEAR IT, EAT IT, USE IT
Some cyclists are minimalists. Others are gear geeks. Regardless of your affinity for cycling paraphernalia, here’s our 2019 selection of locally made, cool or popular items you might want to check out. It’s all good.
CycleTote® Bicycle Trailers have been made in Fort Collins since 1976. From children to dogs to groceries to whatever, these sturdy, yet light-weight trailers will help you transport up to 175 pounds. They’re the only way to roll with a load. www.cycletote.com Akinz t-shirts and hats will wrap up and top off your riding adventures. Whether pedaling or refueling, wearing Akinz apparel, which is all lovingly handcrafted in the heart of downtown Fort Collins, will make you look good. https://akinz.com
Electrifying Rides can be yours! People of all ages and abilities are discovering or enhancing their two-wheeled commutes, tours or recreational rides with a boost from a battery. Dozens of e-bicycle makes and models are available. Ask your favorite bike shop for selection advice. (Note: Colorado law allows e-bikes on paved trails, but individual communities may prohibit their use. Fort Collins is one. E-bikes are prohibited for use on the FoCo’s paved trails with the motor engaged, unless under ADA regulations, but the city is considering implementing a pilot project allowing e-bikes on trails. Check with FC Bikes for the latest. www.fcgov.com/ bicycling.) 8
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GUIDE TO NORTHERN COLORADO BICYCLING CULTURE AND EVENTS
Ground Keeper Fenders as in “keep the ground off me.” Made from highly durable recycled polyethylene that’s crack resistant, even in extreme cold, these fenders will help you stay crud-free. Choose from a cool pre-designed fender or create your own for your event, company or biker gang. They come with zip ties or Velcro® for attaching to most bike frames. www.groundkeeperfenders.com
SuperJames Bar is a super yummy, gluten-free, nutty, seedy, delicious snack you can take along to fuel a ride. Named after the iconic Super James ride that starts in Boulder and climbs through the foothills, each bar is made with love in Johnstown. www.superjamesnbars.com
Topo Designs Bike Bag attaches to most handle bars. Keep your tools, snacks and other bicycling must-haves at your fingertips by stashing them all in this Colorado-made weather-resistant bag. It comes with a shoulder strap, so you can use it for offthe-bike adventuring, too. www.topodesigns.com
GUIDE TO NORTHERN COLORADO BICYCLING CULTURE AND EVENTS
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| BIKE WAYS & WISE | KIM SHARPE
RIDE ON NOCO
Northern Colorado is recognized as a bicycle-friendly destination. Here’s a little bit of why that’s so.
FORT COLLINS’ FEATURES
AFTER A PEOPLE FOR BIKESsponsored trip to the Netherlands, where in some places at least 50 percent of people get around by bike, City of Fort Collins leaders are going Dutch. With fresh ideas and information gathered on their visit, they are testing out features to help bicyclists feel safer riding on streets, like a fully protected bike lane and special intersection treatments on a 1.5-mile section of W. Mulberry Street. Tessa Greegor,
LOVELAND’S LATEST
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FC Bikes manager, says, “Preliminary data collection shows more people are riding because of the improved bicycle infrastructure, and the majority of people surveyed feel safer and more comfortable traveling the street regardless of mode.” And to continue its reputation as a pace setter, Fort Collins more than doubled the size of its Bike Share Program. It now has 250 Pace bicycles located and 42 stations across the city. The expanded bike share system
has experienced a doubling in ridership since June 2018. Another boon for the city and beyond is the completion of the Long View Trail, which is the second northsouth trail connecting Fort Collins to Loveland. A 1.7-mile segment of trail also now connects the Fossil Creek Trail to the Cathy Fromme Prairie Natural Area through the Redtail Grove Natural Area and under the railroad tracks on the west side of College Avenue. Kurt Friesen, City of Fort Collins parks planning manager says, this “represents a culmination of more than 20 years of work and partnerships, and that the trail provides a significant connection between the east and west sides of Fort Collins.” Read more at www.fcgov.com/ bicycling.
THE SWEETHEART CITY IS getting sweeter and sweeter for bike riding. With 22 paved miles of recreational trails and 130 miles of on-street bike lanes, Loveland’s off- and on-road bike network “...is getting some pretty good bones,” says Katie Guthrie, City of Loveland principal planner. And the city plans to put more flesh on those bones in the near future. Throughout this year, city employees are working hard to
“Connect Loveland” by updating the bike and pedestrian plan, transportation plan and transit plan—all at the same time. Throughout the process, they’re asking for public input. They want to know where you go, how you get there and what improvements are needed to make it easier. Get the full scoop at www.cityof loveland.org/departments/publicworks/engineering/connect-loveland.
GUIDE TO NORTHERN COLORADO BICYCLING CULTURE AND EVENTS
GO GREELEY MORE BIKE LANES. Road diets to make some roads skinnier for cars and roomier for bicycles. Fatter lines marking bike-lane boundaries. Greeley traffic engineers are continuing to make the city’s streets friendly for those who go by bike. Plus, the trails that wind through the city are getting longer and better. Construction is under way on the final section of the Sheep Draw Trail that leads south from the Poudre Trail through the McCloskey Trail Natural Area. Tunnels are being built under 71st and 83rd Avenues to complete that route. Flood-damaged sections of the Poudre Trail are receiving T.L.C., too. To encourage more people to ride safely, Safe Cycling Road Rules and Road Skills classes will be offered to Greeley residents this spring and summer. Visit www.GreeleyRec. com for details. PHOTO COURTESY CITY OF GREELEY
TRAIL SCOOP
FOR LOCAL TRAIL MAPS and conditions: In Fort Collins—www.fcgov.com/parks/trail-status2.php In Loveland— w ww.cityofloveland.org/departments/parks-recreation/ recreation-trails In Larimer County—www.larimer.org/naturalresources/trails For the Poudre Trail in Weld County—www.poudretrail.org/trail-conditions. FOR INFO ABOUT REGIONAL TRAIL PLANS: North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization—970-221-6243, https://nfrmpo.org/bike-ped.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
YOU CAN BALANCE on two wheels and even pedal to propel yourself forward, so of course you know how to ride a bike. But do you? If you want to discover what you don’t know, take a Smart Cycling, Learn to Ride or Back on a Bike class. Car and truck drivers can know before they go, too, by taking a Bicycle Friendly Driver course. Most classes are free! Learn more at www.bicycle ambassordorprogram.org.
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KIDS AND BIKES GO TOGETHER KIDS LIKE TO RIDE BIKES, and they like to feel that they belong. In Fort Collins, many kids enjoy rolling those two together after the last school bell rings. Several elementary and middle schools in Fort Collins host after-school bike clubs, sponsored by the city’s Safe
PHOTO COURTESY CITY OF FORT COLLINS
REGIONAL RIDING
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Routes to School Program (SRTS). Club members know that when the SRTS trailer pulls up (it’s filled with bikes, adaptive gear and the tools to keep everyone’s bike tuned up), they’re in for a good time. Young riders learn about rules of the road and trails, as well as other safe-cycling skills, like crash-avoidance maneuvers. Members of the Riffenburgh Rock Riders Mountain Biking Club learn how to navigate single tracks and about environmental stewardship. But mostly, “They learn how to explore the world, how to get around by bike and hopefully develop a love of cycling that will last their entire lives,” says Nancy Nichols, the City of Fort Collins’ SRTS coordinator. To support school-based bike clubs in Fort Collins, SRTS partners with Poudre School District, BASE Camp, Bike Fort Collins and Overland Mountain Bike Association. The program receives funding specifically for after-school clubs from the FoCo Fondo Festival (turn to p.45 for more Fondo info). The overall SRTS program is funded by the Keep Fort Collins Great tax initiative and supported by periodic grants from the Colorado Department of Transportation. Thompson School District (TSD) students in Loveland roll out and enjoy SRTS programming, too. Mechelle MartzMayfield, the TSD Safe Routes to School coordinator, is thankful the City of Loveland donated a trailer that carries a fleet of bikes and equipment for bike rodeos. She says she can’t imagine a childhood without a bike, because, “Bikes mean freedom and adventure, something every kid needs.”
ONE OF THE MILLION-DOLLAR (okay, maybe more) questions NoCo cyclists ask is, “When can we ride the Poudre Trail from Laporte to Greeley?” Ryan Dusil, North Front Range Metropolitan Planning transportation planner, says, “The pesky area around Timnath is still in the works, but Larimer County has expressed it is their top trail priority.” The Poudre River Trail Corridor website (www.poudretrail.org) reports, “Larimer County is working diligently with landowners to connect the Timnath section to River Bluffs Open Space. Although progress is steady, a construction timeline is not in place for this section.”
GUIDE TO NORTHERN COLORADO BICYCLING CULTURE AND EVENTS
And what about the Great Western Trail (www.gwtrail.com) that connects Severance to Eaton, with Windsor in the middle? This mixed-use, softsurface recreation trail is built on an abandoned rail bed of the Great Western Railroad. The southern half of the trail exists from Windsor to Severance. Dusil says, “Construction to connect Severance and Eaton will begin (and potentially end) in 2019. There have been some hang-ups with environmental clearances for a historic trestle bridge that’s delayed things.” So, stay calm and ride on as trail construction continues.
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| PIT STOPS | KIM SHARPE
THE ART OF BICYCLING
A RIBBON OF nearly 200 miles of paved trails weaves through northern Colorado, almost seamlessly joining its communities together in a rideable tapestry. Pedal along and marvel at our region’s natural beauty, but also pause to appreciate the art that embellishes our paths and public spaces.
HAVE A HEART LOVELAND IS A “City with HeART™.” Tour in and around its streets and trails to find one or all 30 fiberglass hearts that decorate the landscape. Each 5-foot tall and 4.5-foot wide heart is individually sponsored, created and lovingly named. Download a map of HeART locations from www.loveland. org/programs/city-with-heart/ or stop by the Chamber of Commerce or Loveland Visitors Center for a hard copy.
DJRIMAGING 970-744-0176
THREE-DIMENSIONAL DISCOVERIES BRONZE. STONE. Wood. Upcycled materials. Northern Colorado, especially Loveland, is home to hundreds— maybe thousands—of sculptures
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crafted by internationally known artists. The Benson Sculpture Park and Garden on the west side of Loveland, and the McWhinney-Hahn Sculpture
GUIDE TO NORTHERN COLORADO BICYCLING CULTURE AND EVENTS
Park and Chapungu Sculpture Park at Centerra on the east side, are all great destinations or places to take a break while out for ride.
COURTESY OF THE GREGORY ALLICAR MUSEUM OF ART AT COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
PHOTO COURTESY CITY OF FORT COLLINS
ART IN THE FORT IF YOU PEDAL AROUND downtown Fort Collins, follow your ears to find works of art. The city has beautifully painted pianos located at several outdoor locations that many passerby-musicians take time to play. (Maybe
you’re one?) If you ride along the city’s trails, keep an eye out for artfully decorated transformer cabinets; there are hundreds to enjoy. And if you travel in the bikeway along Remington Street, make sure to notice the giant Andy
Warhol Campbell’s Tomato Soup Can in front of the old Fort Collins High School. It was created in collaboration with and signed by Andy Warhol for the opening of the Warhol exhibit at CSU back in 1981.
SOME TAKE ART FOR GRANITE FROM ISLAND GROVE REGIONAL PARK in Greeley through Windsor and Larimer County’s River Bluff’s Open Space, you can ride 21 miles on the Poudre River Trail. Granite markers will help you keep track of the distance you travel. Each one is embellished with a carving of an animal or bird that lives along the river. Larger Story Posts include carvings that depict the history of trail sections. All were designed and created by local artists Debbie Dalton and Mike McBride of Greeley Monument works. GUIDE TO NORTHERN COLORADO BICYCLING CULTURE AND EVENTS
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GUIDE TO NORTHERN COLORADO BICYCLING CULTURE AND EVENTS
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R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Don’t leave home without it • By Maureen Massidda and Megan Hottman HAVE YOU EVER BEEN RIDING along a scenic roadway and been buzzed by a speeding car? Have you ever been driving a car and had to slow way down because there’s a large peloton of cyclists in front of you taking up the whole traffic lane, acting like it’s race day? As Colorado’s population grows, there’s an increasing number of motorists and cyclists sharing the road. The result— rising tension and frustration. Experts attribute this to a lack of knowledge on the part of both motorists and cyclists, and emphasize that education is key in making roads safer for all. Cyclists and motorists should both understand the basic
legal foundation: The law in every state says that cyclists have the same rights and obligations as the operators of motor vehicles. Cyclists have the legal right to ride on roadways. They must obey traffic signs and traffic laws. They must signal turns and use lights at night. Motorists don’t have exclusive right to roadways; they must share them with cyclists. The bottom line? We can all improve our riding and driving behaviors to ride and drive more safely. And none of us should ever get behind the handlebars or wheel without strapping on a helmet or seat belt and a healthy dose of respect for others.
HOW TO BE RESPECTFUL AND SAFE WHEN YOU ARE THE CYCLIST: THE LAW SAYS
Bike lane
Bike lane with hazard present
Large or small shoulder, but no bike lane
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COMMON COURTESY
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT
In Colorado, cyclists are not required by law to ride in a bike lane. Bike lanes are for the exclusive use of bicyclists, however. They are not for parking cars or for delivery vehicles to temporarily park in.
It makes sense for a cyclist to ride in designated bike lanes where they exist, unless there are hazards, parked cars or opening doors, which make it unsafe. For a cyclist to avoid a “right hook,” where a right-turning car may cross the bike lane and turn into the cyclist in the bike lane, some riders choose to merge out into the straightthrough traffic lane through the intersection and then merge back into the bike lane.
Bike lanes are added for cyclists’ safety, and so that cyclists have a designated place to ride, which decreases tension and uncertainty with motorists. Statistics show that car-bike collisions typically decrease when bike lanes or other bike infrastructure is added.
Motorists passing a bike lane would have no way to know that a cyclist might merge into their lane to avoid a hazard in the bike lane, so the cyclist must use caution before leaving the bike lane.
It makes sense for a cyclist to ride in designated bike lanes where they exist, unless there are hazards, parked cars or opening doors, which make it unsafe. For a cyclist to avoid a “right hook,” where a right-turning car may cross the bike lane and turn into the cyclist in the bike lane, some riders choose to merge out into the straightthrough traffic lane through the intersection and then merge back into the bike lane.
The bike lane is ultimately just white paint on the pavement. Cyclists should continue to be vigilant and aware while riding in a bike lane unless they enjoy a protected bike lane, separated from traffic by concrete or other barriers.
In Colorado, cyclists are to ride as far to the right as is deemed safe by the cyclist. This legal requirement does not change with the presence of a small or large shoulder, bike lane or no bike lane. There is no mandate that cyclists MUST use the shoulder or MUST use bikes lane where they exist.
Most cyclists want to ride as far to the right as they can/as far away from overtaking cars as possible. So, with the presence of a shoulder, most cyclists will choose to ride on it vs. in the traffic lane to allow the overtaking cars to use the traffic lane. However, the notes above regarding hazards apply to shoulders, as well. A cyclist must use due care before swerving left into the traffic lane from a shoulder to avoid a hazard.
At the end of the day, cyclists typically prefer avoiding interactions with vehicles. Most of the time, a shoulder provides a nice safe place to ride, away or further-removed from traffic.
GUIDE TO NORTHERN COLORADO BICYCLING CULTURE AND EVENTS
THE LAW SAYS
COMMON COURTESY
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT
Motorists in Colorado are required to provide a minimum of three-foot passing distance when overtaking a cyclist, and they may only overtake a cyclist with the three-foot buffer when it is safe to do so. The law allows a driver to cross the solid center yellow line to give the cyclist this three-foot passing space, but again, only when safe to do so.
A cyclist cannot control when or if a motorist overtakes them, or how much space they are provided by the car, but in the event of an overtaking car with an oncoming car approaching, the cyclist would be welladvised to try and move right or even to get off the road if possible.
To avoid the oncoming car/head-on collision (or as is often the case, the overtaking car suddenly moves right into the cyclist).
In Colorado, cyclists should not ride more than two abreast and may only do so as long as they are not impeding the normal and reasonable flow of traffic. Law enforcement has often interpreted this to mean five or more cars backed up behind a group of cyclists riding two abreast. So, if traffic is being impeded, cyclists should ride single file.
Group rides should be tight two-by-two lines of cyclists riding in a very controlled manner, not a large mass of riders spread out across multiple lanes of the road. Many group rides turn into bike “races” in the riders’ minds, and yet the cars sharing the road still need to get where they are going. Large groups can easily cause chaos and impede traffic. It is best to keep the group size manageable and to ride as closely/ controlled as possible.
Large groups of cyclists are the most visible and most likely to really piss off motorists. Spreading out across lanes, passing three or four abreast with cars overtaking the group, echelons, wind, road hazards and so on—all of these present a very difficult scenario for motorists to maneuver through. Imagine if you were the motorist behind a large group of cyclists and you’re trying to get home or get your kid to school. How would you feel? Just because you’re riding in a group doesn’t mean you get to ride the roads as if you are part of a sanctioned bike event.
The law is clear: a cyclist shall have all of the same rights and obligations as the operator of a motor vehicle. This means a cyclist should approach intersections, fourway stops and other scenarios just as they would in their car. Stop or slow down as needed, yield to other vehicles who arrived at the intersection first and so on.
It is critical that cyclists ride in a way to be predictable and compliant with legally and commonly accepted behavior. Ride your bike as you would drive your car. This includes signaling turns, using hands and body language to indicate to other road users what your intentions are so that motorists are not left trying to read minds of cyclists who are not making their intentions known or clear.
To avoid the right hook by a motorist or T-boning a vehicle.
Colorado law says cyclists have the same rights/obligations as operators of motor vehicles. Colorado law says the operator of a motor vehicle shall not wear headphones. By deduction then, a cyclist shall not wear headphones, either.
Cyclists should have as much awareness and knowledge of their surroundings as possible. This means hearing what is going on around them, as well as seeing and perceiving their surroundings. Wearing headphones means a cyclist’s senses could be impeded, preventing them from sensing cars and other threats around them.
Most insurance companies of drivers who hit a cyclist make a big deal of the fact that the cyclist was wearing headphones, regardless of the type or nature of the collision. There is an implied belief that if the cyclist had been able to hear the car they would have been able to avoid the collision. While this may not be true, the point is that a cyclist should ride distraction-free and be totally focused on what is going on around them. If a rider must wear headphones, they should only wear one earbud and not on the traffic side (the left ear).
Traffic light without bike lane
See above for Intersection. A cyclist should be positioned in the right-most lane and is advised to take the lane to maintain position in an intersection/at a red light.
See above for Intersection.
See above for Intersection.
Traffic light with bike lane
See above for bike lane and discussion of moving left into traffic lane to proceed straight through intersection on a green light to avoid right hook.
See above for Intersection.
See above for Intersection.
Oncoming vehicle while another vehicle is overtaking you
In a group (more than single-file wide)
4-way stop OR Intersection with no traffic sign or light
Riding with earbuds/ headphones
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HOW TO BE RESPECTFUL AND SAFE WHEN YOU ARE THE MOTORIST: THE LAW SAYS
Cyclist riding in the bike lane
Cyclist riding in the road
Cyclist riding on the shoulder
Cyclist riding in the wrong direction (towards me)
Oncoming vehicle while trying to overtake a cyclist
Group of cyclists (more than single-file wide)
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COMMON COURTESY
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT
Cyclists are not required to ride in the bike lane. A motorist must maintain a safe distance between their vehicle and the cyclist. This includes all mirrors or any other projections from the vehicle on the side closest to the cyclist. Many states, including Colorado, require motorists to give cyclists at least three feet when passing.
• Watch for cyclists riding in the bike lane. • Do not park in bike lanes. • Give cyclists as much space as safely possible when passing. • When making a right-hand turn, use your turn signals, slow down, check both your side mirror and passenger window to ensure a cyclist is not riding right next to you. • Use the Dutch Reach when opening doors that open into a bike lane. (Reach for the door handle with your far-away hand, swivel, look out and back, open slowly.)
To avoid crashing into the cyclist when turning or causing a dooring collision when parking in a bike lane.
Cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists. This means cyclists can ride in the road anytime/ anywhere. In addition, cyclists are allowed to take the lane if the lane is not wide enough to safely share. A motorist must maintain three feet between their vehicle (including mirrors or other projections) and the cyclist.
• Share the road with cyclists. • Wait until the oncoming lane is clear to overtake cyclists and until it is safe to do so. • Give cyclists as much space as safely possible when passing. • Do not tailgate cyclists, drive erratically or use your vehicle to threaten a cyclist.
Cyclists have the legal right to take the lane to keep themselves safe to avoid hazards or when the lane is too narrow. Colorado law requires a cyclist to ride as far to the right as is judged safe by the bicyclist. Cyclists can ride on any road unless specifically prohibited (for example, on some interstates).
Driving on the shoulder is not permitted.
Look for cyclists if you use the shoulder for any reason.
To avoid hitting a cyclist who is riding on the shoulder.
Bicyclists must ride in the same direction as traffic. Cyclists may choose to ride on sidewalks where there is no directional requirement. In other words, they may be riding against traffic on the sidewalk, which is not illegal, but does mean motorists MUST watch for them at intersections and in crosswalks.
• Be aware of cyclists, especially children, riding in the wrong direction. • Look to the left and right when exiting a parking lot, side street or driveway.
A motorist turning out of a parking lot, side street or driveway may not see a cyclist riding in the wrong direction. A cyclist riding in the wrong direction in a bike lane can cause a head-on collision with other bicyclists traveling in the right direction or can cause another cyclist to move into traffic to avoid such a collision.
Most states, including Colorado, require motorists to give cyclists at least three feet when overtaking them. Some states, including Colorado, allow motorists to cross a solid line to overtake a cyclist. Safe Passing Laws by State: http://www.ncsl.org/research/ transportation/safely-passing-bicyclists.aspx
• Don’t follow a cyclist too closely before overtaking. • Wait for oncoming traffic to pass, and then pull into the oncoming lane to give a bicyclist adequate space. • Be aware of anything that might force the cyclist away from the side of the road that reduces the separation between you and them, like debris, potholes and tree branches.
To avoid sideswiping bicyclists, buzzing cyclists from behind or causing them to overcorrect to avoid a vehicle. Passing cyclists too closely at high speed because you’re impatient or in a hurry is considered reckless endangerment.
In Colorado, cyclists may only legally ride two abreast (maximum) if they are not impeding the normal/reasonable movement of traffic. Impeding = cyclists two abreast are causing traffic congestion/a traffic jam.
• Do not honk at cyclists or yell at them from your car. • Do not accelerate immediately after overtaking the cyclist. • Give the cyclist enough space when overtaking. Cyclists can be severely injured or killed if struck by the vehicle’s side mirror or the car itself.
To avoid overtaking cyclists too closely causing injury or death to the cyclist.
GUIDE TO NORTHERN COLORADO BICYCLING CULTURE AND EVENTS
Custom Tailored Mountain Bike Tours for all ages and abilities • Half & Full Day Adventures • Private MTB Skills Clinics • Corporate/Group/Family Rides • Winter Fat Bike Adventures
720.470.1627 FrontRangeRideGuides.com
GUIDE TO NORTHERN COLORADO BICYCLING CULTURE AND EVENTS
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Crazy about bikes NORTHERN COLORADO BICYCLING offers a little something for everyone. We have good weather, a variety of terrains, hundreds of miles of bike lanes and trails, riding clubs, races, BMX and mountain biking, bike-friendly businesses and universities, and so much more. EARLY DAYS While historical records show people have been riding bicycles here since at least 1882 when the first bike arrived in Greeley, the story of how we developed a bicycle-loving and riding culture involves passionate bicyclists collaborating with responsive local governments and businesses. By creating a fun and welcoming at-
mosphere for riders of all ages, and funding strategies to make cycling safer, northern Colorado has become a bicycling mecca for many. In 1902, Judge Mack Mills drove the first car up from Denver, and it didn’t take long before automobiles eclipsed bicycles in northern Colorado. The proliferation of cars didn’t bring an end to bikes, but it definitely threw them to the curb, both literally and figuratively. For kids, bikes were a ticket to freedom, but for adults, car was king. And the way we began to organize our communities reflected this trend. Neighborhoods were built farther and farther from shops and jobs; corner stores were consolidated into larger
How did northern Colorado get here? Meg Dunn grocery stores; and buildings were torn down to make way for parking lots. WAKE UP CALL Then in 1970, several things happened that ever-so-slowly started pushing for a resurgence of bicycle use. The nation was waking up to the fact that car exhaust was contributing to the smog that blanketed big cities. Earth Day was held for the first time on April 22, 1970, and several NoCo high schools, as well as CSU and UNC, hosted speakers, demonstrations and bike rides in support of Mother Earth. On that same day, Joe Brockstein, Jim Disney, Art Minnick and Darrel Smith formed the PEDAL club. PEDAL stands
NORTHERN COLORADO BICYCLING TIMELINE
1882: First documented bicycle arrives in Greeley.
1900: There was a petition to install bicycle paths throughout Greeley.
1896: Greeley alderman creates 1902: The first a bike path on 9th Avenue along car arrives in the edge of his property. It was Fort Collins. even cleared of snow in winter and lasted until at least 1901. 1897: House bill No. 90 failed to pass in the Colorado House. It would have mandated bike paths alongside every road.
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1957: High schooler Mary Kintzley asks City Council for bike parking in downtown Fort Collins. It responded promptly by installing three bike racks. 1943: Klitzke’s Bicycle Shop opened in Loveland. It’s known as Loveland Cycle ‘N Fitness today.
1919: Earliest known mention of the business that eventually became George’s Repair Shop.
GUIDE TO NORTHERN COLORADO BICYCLING CULTURE AND EVENTS
April 22, 1970: On the first Earth Day, bike rides are led by high schoolers and college students as a form of protest against car pollution. The PEDAL Club was created in Loveland.
1963: Lee’s Cyclery October 1970: 4.5 miles founded in Fort Collins of bike lanes are striped for by Lee Cooper. It’s now a trial period in Fort Collins. called Trek Bicycle.
1960s: The Chevron gas station at the corner of Prospect Road and S. College Avenue in Fort Collins rents out tandem bicycles.
1968: The Bike Peddler opens in Greeley.
1972: New bike path running down the center of 10th Avenue in Greeley was being used more than expected. 1973: One cent sales tax instituted in Fort Collins to go towards trails for bikes, peds and horseback riders.
1970: Bill and Betty Sears and Ruth Orr collected 1,700 signatures on a petition supporting bike lanes in Fort Collins.
for People’s Efforts to De-emphasize Automobiles in Loveland. Though Earth Day provided the spark, it was riding groups like PEDAL, the Spring Creek Velo Club in Fort Collins, and the Greeley Wheels Cycling Club that grew ridership, essentially acting like bicycling apprenticeship programs. Traveling in a group provided safety in numbers. Members chatted about rules of the road, routes and gear, encouraged each other through tough rides, and banded together when there was a bicyclist death or some type of egregious situation that they felt needed to be dealt with (like the time CDOT put rumble strips along US 34, right where bicyclists traveled). Though bikes were still the sole use of transport for a fearless few, it seems to primarily have been the folks in riding clubs that began advocating for specific improvements and taking their causes to city councils. Just a few months after that first Earth Day, there was a push to get bike lanes striped in Fort Collins. There had been a similar campaign in 1963, but city council shot the idea down—enabling Davis, California, in 1967, to get the honor of being the first U.S. city with dedicated bike lanes. Bill and Betty Sears moved from Davis to Fort Collins three years later and, with the help of Ruth Orr,
1979: Greeley develops a Bicycle Master Plan.
1987: The first Loveland Bike Week takes place.
1979: Columbine Cycle Works starts building handmade bicycles in Greeley.
Mid ‘70s: Spring Creek Velo Club started through Brand X bike shop. Later supported by the Bike Broker.
collected 1,700 signatures and again asked city council for lanes. This time the idea was approved and within a few months, four and a half miles of bike lanes were in place. One year later in Greeley, UNC Professor George Brooks, Greeley Wheels Cycling Club Member Clark Thomas, and Craig Pulliam, a student, advocated for bike paths for the over 12,000 registered bicyclists in the city. The first path was installed right down the center of 10th Avenue in 1972 and, in the words of Keith Eberhardt, the
1991: New Belgium Brewing opens. Their flagship beer is called Fat Tire, a nod to the bike trip through Belgium that inspired the company.
1989: Greeley holds their first Bike Week.
1979: The Poudre Trail and Spring Creek Trail are begun in Fort Collins.
Soldiers Day Parade in Greeley. 1899. (Denver Public Library Digital Collections, X-9051)
1999: David Kemp and Joe Menetre envisioned Tour De Fat as a bicycle and beer celebration.
1995: Fort Collins produces its first comprehensive Bike Plan and hires Kelly Roberts as Bicycle Education and Encouragement Coordinator.
Early 90s: Dan Gould suggests a bike and public transit route along the BNRR line through Fort Collins—the first suggestion of transit-oriented development in northern Colorado.
city’s public works director, it was “being used more than expected.” In 1973, Fort Collins passed a 1-percent sales tax called Designing Tomorrow Today. In addition to providing funds for a new library building, the Lincoln Center and the beginning of Transfort bus service, it also enabled the beginnings of the Poudre and Spring Creek Trails with construction starting in 1979. These bike trails provided safe, comfortable and beautiful routes for riders of all ages. Residents were now able to
2003: Rafael Millan and friends begin fixing friends and neighbor’s bikes out of their garage—the beginning of the Bike Co-op in Fort Collins.
2001/2: Alexi Grewal, an Olympic gold medalist in road cycling, moves to Loveland. He runs for mayor in 2009 and again in 2013.
1995: Bike trail begins in Greeley near Island Grove Park.
2003: Fort Collins becomes a Silver Bicycle Friendly Community through the League of American Bicyclists.
2009: Greeley receives a Bicycle Friendly Community Honorable Mention.
2005: Archie Solskey and Rick Price create the Friends of the Fort Collins Bicycle Program, Inc. to support the bike library. This group later becomes Bike Fort Collins. 2008: Fort Collins becomes a Gold Bicycle Friendly Community.
GUIDE TO NORTHERN COLORADO BICYCLING CULTURE AND EVENTS
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Ten members of the Morgan Library staff are seated on a 10-seat bike owned by Bill Swets in 1973. (Colorado State University Historic Photograph Collection, UHPC_T794_3)
enjoy a leisurely ride without having to worry about interactions with cars. As one writer in Greeley opined in 1995, “We get tired of comparisons to Fort Collins because we think Greeley is a much nicer city, but we can’t help but envy our neighbor’s trail system.”
sponsorship changed again and the race became the Coors International Bicycle Classic, spanning two weeks in three states. This race, with winners such as Connie Carpenter going on to claim the gold in the 1984 Olympics, spotlighted bicycling in Colorado. Concerted advocacy efforts also took root in the ‘80s. PEDAL helped to bring the first Bike Week to Loveland in 1987 with the help of Kerry Randa. Greeley followed suit in 1989. Bike Week accomplished multiple goals in a short amount of time. With Bike to Work Day,
BIKE CULTURE TAKES ROOT In the ‘70s and ‘80s, bicycling in Colorado gained international attention. Celestial Seasonings in Boulder had taken on the University Hill Criterium in 1975 and renamed it the Red Zinger Bicycle Classic. In 1980, the
businesses (besides just bike shops) were engaged in supporting bicycling by hosting booths and serving food. Family rides were held that encouraged people of all ages to knock the dust off their bike and take it out for a spin. Bike rodeos provided opportunities to teach young riders bike safety skills. And perhaps most important of all, by counting the growing number of participants each year, advocates were able to show city councils just how popular bicycling was. Also in the ‘80s, some businesses started to reward bicyclists for foregoing their cars. The Bike Broker had a program where downtown Fort Collins business employees could park their bikes at the shop and they’d get a 50-cents-a-day store credit. The Cupboard also developed a reimbursement program for employees who pedaled to work. Not only were the shop owners putting their money where their mouth was, but also their example pointed out to other local businesses that bicyclists spend money and catering to bicyclists could make good economic sense. Enthusiastic riders, supportive businesses and active advocates have provided a foundation for a growing bicycle culture, but a responsive local government can build upon this
NORTHERN COLORADO BICYCLING TIMELINE
2010: Loveland receives a Bicycle Friendly Community Honorable Mention.
2013: Fort Collins achieves Platinum Bicycle Friendly Community level, one of only four in the United States.
2011: Fort Collins is ranked 3rd on the Best Bicycle Cities list by the League of American Bicyclists and TheStreet.com
2012: Fort Collins is ranked 11th on America’s Top 50 Bike-Friendly Cities: Bicycle Magazine.
2011: Colorado State University becomes the first university in the state to gain a bicycle friendly designation when it receives a Silver Bicycle Friendly University award.
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2015: Colorado State University becomes a Platinum level Bicycle Friendly University.
2016: Greeley becomes a Bronze Bicycle Friendly Community.
2014: Bicycling Magazine names Fort Collins 9th Best Bike City.
2014: The University of Northern Colorado becomes a Bronze Bicycle Friendly University.
GUIDE TO NORTHERN COLORADO BICYCLING CULTURE AND EVENTS
May 2018: Fort Collins is named No. 1 City in America for Cycling: PeopleForBikes.
2017: The Colorado Front Range Trail between Boyd Lake State Park and the Fossil Creek Trail at Carpenter Road is completed, becoming the first paved trail connecting Fort Collins and Loveland.
2018: Loveland creates a position for and hires a full-time, multi-modal transportation planner.
2018: The Long View Trail is completed connecting Fort Collins and Loveland. Loveland makes plans to buy 159 acres along the Big Thompson River corridor to build a trail to Johnstown.
foundation with the tools and resources that enable even fearful riders to take to the streets. Though Greeley developed a comprehensive bicycle master plan in 1979 with innovative ideas such as left-hand turn lanes for bicyclists, followthrough was limited. Fort Collins didn’t develop a bike plan until 1995, but they supported it through the creation of a Bicycle Education and Encouragement Coordinator position with a dedicated budget. By adding extensive bike lanes, continuing to build out multi-use trails and finding creative solutions for previously dangerous intersections, Fort Collins has seen their ridership swell. In 2013, the city became one of only four communities in America to achieve a Platinum Bike Friendly Community rating from the League of American Bicyclists, the nation’s oldest bicycling advocacy group. And in 2018, People for Bikes named Fort Collins the No. 1 City in America for Bicycling. (Greeley developed another bike plan in 2015 and is currently working on implementation. It was named a Bronzelevel Bike Friendly Community in 2016.) Loveland adopted its first Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan in 2012 and is working to update it this year. AND BEYOND There are still ways our local bike culture can continue to grow and evolve.
Two students on bikes prepare to share a kiss. May 1985. (Colorado State University Historic Photograph Collection, UHPCT_2047-6
Regionally, we need to commit to a Vision Zero plan where we find solutions for bicyclists and motorists that reduce all vehicle related deaths to zero. Our extensive trail systems will be even better once we get all of our northern Colorado communities connected to one another. And, of course, we need to hang on to our beloved bike festivities that flavor our communities
with bike-themed fun, such as Tour de Fat, the Polar Pedal ride, and Tour de Pants, just to name a few. We’ve come a long way thanks to the hard work of those who have gone before us. And with continued effort, advocacy and support from city governments, the northern Colorado bicycle culture will continue to grow and thrive.
Fort Collins Leadershp enjoys an inagural ride on a newly opened trail. PHOTO COURTESY CITY OF FORT COLLINS GUIDE TO NORTHERN COLORADO BICYCLING CULTURE AND EVENTS
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STATUS CHECK ON MOUNTAIN BIKING IN NOCO
PHOTO BY JOHNLAGUARDIA.COM
IMAGINE A JULY WEEKDAY, 5:30am. You hop on your 29-er and pedal west with the heat of the day already gearing up for its afternoon assault. You pedal through a nearly full parking lot and veer onto a wide, soft-surface trail heading north beside the ghost of Hughes Stadium. As the wide trail gives way to narrower single track, you plan your attack for the widening rock garden at the base of your climb. You wonder if you’ll make it through the steep and narrowing rock gap further up the trail, the one that continues to erode by the month. And, you hope you won’t have a head on with a downhill superhero who’s intent on a new personal record. 28
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Then you wax nostalgic, remembering a time when a morning ride up Maxwell was an escape from the mayhem of humanity. These days it seems all of humanity has staked their claim on this and all the local trails you have ridden since way before food trucks, hipsters and CSU’s ever-growing freshman class came to town. THE TRAILS WE LOVE Recent data easily supports your observational assessment. According to Todd Juhasz, trails technician with the City of Fort Collins Natural Areas, in 2008 the city’s estimated annual visitation at Reservoir Ridge was 6,154. Ten years later that estimate more than quadrupled to 27,559. In those same 10
GUIDE TO NORTHERN COLORADO BICYCLING CULTURE AND EVENTS
years usage at Coyote Ridge increased from 9,125 to 35,335. With increased usage comes “perceived crowding,” as the scientific literature calls it. Surveys, such as one that Natural Areas conducted in 2017 and 2018 at each of the four trails within the Foothills Management Area, measure perceived crowding, among other variables, to rate a user’s overall satisfaction with their time on the trail. USAGE AND SUSTAINABILITY Finally, what impact does increased usage have on trail sustainability? Mountain biking in particular has its effects. “A lot of our trails were never really intended for mountain bikes which makes them fun, but also
makes them prone to erosion,” says Steve Lacey, local mountain biking advocate and purpose-built trail champion who works closely with the City of Fort Collins on targeted natural area trails enhancements. “Land agencies see this erosion and chalk it up to mountain bike damage and not trail design. Or, they work to make trail design more sustainable, but forget to include the fun or technical aspects of the trail,” he says. “This can make the trails faster for MTBs and increase user conflicts.” Kenny Bearden, executive director of Overland Mountain Bike Association, agrees. He advocates for trail signage that includes difficulty ratings. According to Juhasz, Natural Areas is piloting a trail difficulty map that is based on the International Mountain Bicycling Association’s trail difficulty rating system, which is based on the green, blue, black International Trail Marking System used at ski areas throughout the world. IMPROVING THE EXPERIENCE Helping mountain bikers match their skill level to the terrain is just one of Bearden’s many ideas for improving the overall mountain bike experience in the Fort Collins area. He envisions a trail network that improves connectivity from town to trail, reduces trail congestion, and offers a range of purpose-built trails that meet the needs of all skill levels, from family friendly to downhill specific. “People aren’t trying to negatively impact the resource,” Bearden says. “The lack of beginner and intermediate trail access from town is a major issue. When we funnel all users, regardless of ability, into a single trail that accesses the best views in town, user conflicts and resource damage are the result.” Maxwell is used more than any other Natural Area. According to the 2017-18 survey previously mentioned, users were more disgruntled with their
experience on that trail than the other Foothills Area trails (e.g., Coyote Ridge, Pine Ridge, and Reservoir Ridge). Bikers were grumpy about crowding from other bikers, hikers complained about bikers being discourteous—whether not yielding right of way, not giving an audible warning or not staying on the trail—and lack of parking was cited as a reason for no longer using the trail. WHAT CAN BE DONE? Natural Areas will use survey data to update its Foothills Area Management Plan in 2019. Building, enhancing or even re-routing trails, especially one like Maxwell, is not easy. “We examine what the public is saying and examine our natural resources and then we make decisions about where it’s feasible to add a trail,” says Fort Collins Natural Areas Director John Stokes. Serving the recreation needs of area residents is not the primary priority of the City of Fort Collins Natural Areas. Its first lens is habitat and wildlife conservation, then recreation. Meanwhile, all types of use are factored into decision making on trail development. NEW TRAIL DEVELOPMENT Purpose-built trail building for mountain biking is a rare and highly managed process. But it happens. Juhasz points to a new section of advanced-level mountain bike trail at Bobcat Ridge that was proposed and shepherded by local riders. Unofficially called “On the Rocks,” the new mile-long trail made it through the complicated public planning process, is under construction and should open this year. Larimer County is likewise working on a new trail that will connect the South Bay to Inlet Bay, providing a trail connection from Fort Collins to Horsetooth Mountain Open Space. Although not purpose-built for mountain biking, the trail was strongly advocated
for from within the mountain biking community, was vetted during the public comment period for updates to the Reservoir Parks Master Plan, and aligned with the county’s dual need to manage for both conservation and recreation. Construction will begin in 2019. New trail development in Horsetooth Mountain Open Space will likely result from the 2017 addition of nearly 1,000 acres of land on the 26,000-acre property. According to Zac Weibe, Larimer County Department of Natural Resources natural resource specialist, any proposed trail developments on the new property will be open for public comment and fleshed out during an update to the open space’s management plan, which occurs in 2019. The future of mountain bike trail development in northern Colorado is a balancing act that is largely controlled by the mission of the entities that steward public trails. It’s also influenced by mountain bikers’ choices and actions. So, honor trail closures and call out fellow riders when they don’t. Yield to pedestrians, horses and uphill travel. Participate in one of the many trail maintenance days the city and county schedule. And consider leaving Strava at home. We’re all in this together. Let’s build something that will last.
For more trail info...
Check out these resources before you head out. • Overland Mountain Bike Association– www.overlandmtb.org • Fort Collins Natural Areas Management Plans–www.fcgov.com/naturalareas/ plans-policies.php • Larimer County Open Space Management Plans–www.larimer.org/natural resources/plans-reportsadvisory-boards
GUIDE TO NORTHERN COLORADO BICYCLING CULTURE AND EVENTS
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Whether you’re here for the weekend, the season or with us for a while, let Wilbur’s Total Beverage welcome you to Fort Collins. With the widest selection of wine, beer and spirits in Northern Colorado and 30 | RiDE GUIDE TO NORTHERN COLORADO BICYCLING CULTURE AND EVENTS a customer-first approach, make Wilbur’s your home now that you’re here!
2201 S. College • 970-226-8662 WilbursTotalBeverage.com
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MAKERS, SELLERS, WRENCHERS ........ 32 RECREATIONAL RIDERS ....................... 33 RACERS & TRAINERS ........................... 33 TOURS ................................................ 34 ADVOCATES & VOLUNTEERS ............... 34 BIKE FRIENDLY DESTINATIONS ............ 35
BIG BIKE DIRECTORY THE
Spot this icon next to Bike Friendly Businesses
NOTE: All telephone area codes are (970) unless otherwise specified GUIDE TO NORTHERN COLORADO BICYCLING CULTURE AND EVENTS
RiDE | 31
GET YOUR GEAR HERE
Black Sheep Bikes www.blacksheepbikes.com 204 N. Link Lane #5, 218-5952
MAKERS, SELLERS, WRENCHERS
BERTHOUD
Berthoud Bicycle www.berthoudbicycle.com 443 Mountain Ave., 532-2290
ESTES PARK
Estes Park Mountain Shop www.estesparkmountainshop. com, 2050 Big Thompson Ave. 586-6548
FORT COLLINS
Akinz www.akinz.com, 15 Old Town Sqr., Ste. 132, 682-1750 Big Shot Bikes www.bigshotbikes.com 106 N. Link Lane, 825-5783 Bike Recyclery www.bikerecyclery.com, By appointment, 314-814-0999
Boo Bicycles www.boobicycles.com 1750 Laporte Ave., 444-2228 Brave New Wheel www.bravenewwheel.com 111 W. Olive St., 416-0417 Cantitoe Road www.cantitoeroad.com, 2106 Rollingwood Dr., 800-422-2104 Carver Surf Racks www.carverracks.com 1318 Duff Dr., 412-2322 Convertible Backpacks by Richard Jones www.pannierbackpacks.com 1512 Elm St., 222-4190 CycleTote Bicycle Trailers www.cycletote.com 517 N. Link Lane, Unit B 800-747-2407
Drake Cycles www.drakecycles.com 902 W. Drake Rd., 631-8326
New World Sports, LLC www.newworldsportsllc.com 119 E. Mountain Ave., 416-6803
Fort Collins Bicycle Co-op www.fcbikecoop.org 1501 N. College Ave., 484-3804
Niner Bikes www.ninerbikes.com 2330 E. Prospect Rd., Ste. 1 877-646-3792
The Gearage Outdoor Sports www.gearageoutdoorsports.com 119 E. Mountain Ave., 416-6803
Oddity Cycles www.odditycycles.com 204 N. Link Lane #5 816-812-8598
Homeward Alliance Bike Repair Program www.homewardalliance.org/ bicycle-repair, 242 Conifer St. 658-9878
On the Wheel www.on-the-wheel.com 106 N. Link Lane
Jax Outdoor Gear www.jaxmercantile.com 1200 N. College Ave. 221-0544 Lawson Cycles www.lawsoncycles.com 120 W. Stuart St., 368-5529 Moonmen Bikes www.moonmenbikes.com 1304 Duff Dr. #12, 556-4074
Pace Bike Share www.ridepace.com/fortcollins Multiple locations. Parsley Art Ankle Bands www.parsleyartstudio.com
Peleton Cycles www.peloton-cycles.com 1981 Jessup Dr., 449-5595
Kenny Bearden
Bikes have always been part of Kenny Bearden’s life. “I remember building and riding trails in the woods around my neighborhood growing up, which is exactly what I do now for a living…only in a much cooler place!” (He grew up in Texas.) Bearden is the Overland Mountain Bike Association executive director, a job where he gets to promote and improve something he’s passionate about—mountain biking, which he says is like nothing else. “I love mountain biking for the access and unique experiences it provides. Sometimes it’s an unexpected wildlife encounter. Sometimes it’s that perfect natural lighting that highlights a mountain peak or a lake or a stream. Sometimes there are unrideable sections and you have a long, ridiculous hike-a-bike that isn’t much fun. But there are always sections of trail that are absolutely beautiful, and you find yourself flowing effortlessly over the terrain, grinning from ear to ear and forgetting all your worries in the world.”
COMMUNITY PROFILE 32
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GUIDE TO NORTHERN COLORADO BICYCLING CULTURE AND EVENTS
Favorite ride and pit stop: Blue Sky—Indian Summer—Devil’s Backbone and back, because you get a little bit of everything, followed by refreshment at Road 34 in FoCo.
Phoenix Cyclery www.phoenixcyclery.com 1532 E. Mulberry St., Ste. D 493-4517
proVelo www.provelobikes.com 4612 S. Mason St., Ste. 110 204-9935
Recycled Cycles www.recycled-cycles.com 4031 S. Mason St., 223-1969 CSU, 451 Isotope Dr., 491-9555 REI – Fort Collins www.rei.com/stores/fort-collins. html, 4025 S. College Ave. 223-0123
Road 34 www.road34.com 1213 W. Elizabeth St., 491-9934
Rocky Mountain Recumbents www.rockymountain recumbents.com, 1901 Sharp Point Dr., Ste. E, 221-4838 Runner’s Roost Now carrying triathlon and road bikes. www.runnersroostfc.com 3500 S. College Ave. #178 224-9114 Topo Designs www.topodesigns.com 130-B S. College Ave., 568-8628
Trailcraft Cycles www.trailcraftcycles.com 402-2384
Trek Bicycle Fort Collins www.trekbikes.com 202 W. Laurel St., 482-6006 931 E. Harmony Rd., 226-6006 YendraBuilt www.facebook.com/ YendraBuilt-214460175301170 1304 Duff Dr. #11, 430-6505 YiPsan Bicycles www.YiPsanbicycles.com 672-0168
GREELEY
Bike Peddler Cycling & Fitness www.bikepeddler.biz 5240 W. 9th St. Dr., Ste. 200 356-3663 George’s Repair Shop www.facebook.com/ pages/Georges-RepairShop/135541259828468 825 7th St., 352-9492 Turnaround Bikes www.turnaroundbikes.com 134 11th Ave., 518-5989
JOHNSTOWN
Scheels www.scheels.com 4755 Ronald Reagan Blvd. 663-7800
LOVELAND
The Bearing https://the-bearing.myshopify.com 2707 W. Eisenhower Blvd. Unit 4, 420-5447
Breakaway Cycles www.breakaway-cycles.com 2237 W. Eisenhower Blvd. 663-1726 Days Roll By www.facebook.com/DaysRollBy 2650 N. Lincoln Ave., 481-4339 Loveland Cycle ‘n Fitness www.lovelandcycle.com 524 N. Cleveland Ave., 667-1943
PUSH Industries, Inc. www.pushindustries.com 1520 Taurus Ct., 278-1110 Trek Bicycle Loveland www.trekbikes.com 4880 Thompson Pkwy. 667-8735
WINDSOR
Spokes www.spokesinc.com 427 Main St., 686-9275
NORTHERN COLORADO Beeline Bikes www.beelinebikes.com 294-6455
Bike Wrench www.MobileBike Wrench.com 231-0605 The Bike Doc www.bike-doc.com, 412-2671 Velofix www.velofix.com, 855-835-6349
FIND YOUR BIKER GANG
RIDERS, RACERS, TRAINERS, ADVOCATES, VOLUNTEERS
REC RIDERS
Belle Starrs A women’s bicycle “gang.” No Spandex or fancy equipment needed, just a passion for two wheels. www.facebook.com/ thebellestarrs Fort Collins Cycling Club Brings together recreational road cyclists of all ability levels. www.fccycleclub.org Fort Follies Empowers women and women identifying individuals of all abilities and disciplines to ride for recreation or race competitively. www.fortfollies.com
Girls Gone Polo Fort Collins ladies bike polo club with pickup games and general fun for all skill levels. www.facebook.com/groups/ girlsgonepolo Loveland Cycling Club Welcomes all to join in group rides and other events. www.lovelandcycling.org Middle Coast W/T/F Bikepacking Collective Empowering community for womyn and queer peeps in a safe and supportive environment through bikepacking—equal parts camping, biking and adventures. www.frontrangewomens bikepacking.com Overland Mountain Bike Association Builds and maintains trails, teaches people how to ride and patrol trails in northern Colorado and southern Wyoming. www.overlandmtb.org PEDAL Club (People’s Efforts to De-emphasize Autos in Loveland) Diverse members ride together and teach others how to ride safely. www.pedalclub.org Team B.O.B. (a.k.a, Babes on Bikes) Women mountain bikers of all ages and abilities ride, maintain trails, educate and participate in cycling-related community events. www.coteambob.com
RACERS & TRAINERS
9Seventy Racing A multi-sport racing team (cycling, running, swimming and snow sports) welcoming all skill levels. www.9seventyracing.com
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Ciclismo Youth Foundation (CYF) Promotes, advocates and creates youth cycling opportunities in northern Colorado. www.ciclismoyouthfoundation.org CycleBar Premium indoor cycling training. https://fortcollins.cyclebar.com 3300 S. College Ave., Ste. 140 FC, 283-7609 Gemini Training Systems Cycling training for athletes to help them reach their competition goals. www.geminitrainingsystems.com 301-8510 Source Endurance Training Center Indoor riding classes, bike fits and recovery tools to help reach your cycling goals. www.source-e.net/trainingcenter-of-the-rockies 1833 E. Harmony Rd., Unit 20, FC, 877-729-0911
Sugar Beets Cycling Team All-ladies team of elite-level riders seeking to empower women through cycling with group rides, clinics and support. www.facebook.com/ SugarBeetsCycling Twin Silo BMX Supports bicycle motocross (BMX) racing at the USABMXsanctioned track in south Fort Collins. www.epicbmxfc.com 5400 Ziegler Rd., FC, 460-8030 Your Group Ride Manages and promotes competitive cycling events in northern Colorado. www.YourGroupRide.com
BICYCLE TOURS
Beer & Bike Tours Guides and support crew connect people to fun and safe adventures. www.beerandbiketours.com 201-1085
ExperiencePlus! Guided cycling tours in more than 20 countries. www.experienceplus.com 800-685-4565 Front Range Ride Guides Guided mountain bike tours of the Front Range and beyond. www.frontrangerideguides.com 720-470-1627 My Handle Bar A 16-passenger bike bar with pedaling seats offers eco-friendly tours of Fort Collins. www.myhandlebar.com 720-431-0119 New Venture Cycling Offers exciting and informative downhill bike tours in Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park. www.newventurecycling.com 2050 Big Thompson Ave., EP 231-2736
ADVOCATES & VOLUNTEERS
Bicycle Advisory Committee A subcommittee of the City of Fort Collins Transportation Board that reviews, recommends and works proactively to identify potential improvements, bicycle policies and future goals. www.fcgov.com/bac, 221-6515 FC Bikes Bicycle Ambassador Program The education division of FC Bikes that trains volunteers to become ambassadors of safe cycling. www. bicycleambassadorprogram.org, 221-6987 Bike Fort Collins Advocacy group committed to cycling for transportation, safer streets and communities and inclusion.www.bikefortcollins.org Campus Bike Advisory Committee Enhances the bicycle experience for the CSU campus community. Participation of students, staff and business representatives welcome. http://bicycle.colostate.edu
Anna Towne
Sometimes it feels like pulling bricks up a hill, but Anna Towne, an Athlete in Tandem (AiT), wouldn’t have it any other way. AiT provides the thrill of competitive sport to every athlete with a disability who imagines cycling, running or swimming in individual events or a triathlon. Motivated by her uncle who lived with severe cerebral palsy and never got to participate in sports, Towne trains hard to help others do just that. She says, “Racing is so much more fun when it’s not all about you.” Towne leads a full life as a wife, new mom and physical therapist for Rebound Therapy. In her spare time she races with Fort Follies, but mostly races with AiT. Whenever she’s riding, Towne says she’s very thankful. “I’m thankful to be alive, thankful to be healthy enough to push my body hard and thankful to be able to see the beauty around me!” Favorite ride: The Horsetooth dams
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Diamond Peaks Mountain Bike Patrol Certified mountain bike patrollers assist others on the trails in medical and or mechanical emergencies; educate trail users of proper etiquette; work on advocacy and trails. www.overlandmtb.org 430-5336
Homeward Alliance Bike Repair Program All-volunteer program providing free bike repair and maintenance to the homeless and others in need in the Fort Collins area. www.homewardalliance.org/ bicycle-repair, 242 Conifer St. 658-9878
Estes Park Cycling Coalition (EPCC) Promotes and increases cycling of all kinds in the Estes Valley, through advocacy, education, partnerships and community building events. www.bikeestes.org
NoCo Bike & Ped Collaborative Advances connectivity of non-motorized networks for recreation, transportation and economic development through coordination, education and promotion. www.nfrmpo.org/ bike-ped/noco, 224-6191
FC Bikes Through advocacy, programming and planning, this City of Fort Collins program seeks to increase bicycling while creating and maintaining a bicycle-friendly community atmosphere. www.fcgov.com/bicycling Fort Collins Bicycle Co-op A nonprofit building community through bicycling, providing additional engagement with the Fort Collins Latinx community. (Una organización sin fines de lucro dedicada a construir una comunidad mediante el ciclismo.) www.fcbikecoop.org, 1501 N. College Ave., FC, 484-3804 Greeley Bikes A City of Greeley initiative to encourage and educate more people to travel by bike. www.greeleybikes.com 1001 9th Ave., GR, 350-9423 Hex Wenches The W/T/F people of the Fort Collins Bike Co-op that host free workshops, social rides and opportunities for women to become leading bike mechanics. Open to all levels of experience. www.facebook.com/groups/ thehexwenches
Northern Colorado Trail Advocacy Group Promotes and improves softsurface, multi-use trails. www.facebook.com/NoCoTAG/ Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Delivers bike and pedestrian safety instruction to Poudre School District and Thompson School District students. www.fcgov.com/saferoutes www.cityofloveland.org
BIKE FRIENDLY DESTINATIONS
CAFÉS, SHOPS, ARTS, MORE
BELLVUE
Howling Cow Café www.howlingcowcafe.com 5821 W. CR 54E, 980-9560
FORT COLLINS
The Armstrong Hotel www.thearmstronghotel.com 259 S. College Ave., 484-3883 Cranked Up Coffee & Craft Beverages www.crankedupcoffee.com 237-0334, 215 N. College Ave. (Scrumpy’s), 3500 S. College Ave. (Guilded Goat Brewing), 120 W. Stuart St. (SnackAttack), 307 S. College Ave. (Tap & Handle)
The Cupboard www.thecupboard.net 152 S. College Ave., 493-8585 Edge Optics www.edgeopticseyewear.com 706 S. College Ave. #101 682-2627 Fort Collins Food Cooperative www.fcfood.coop 250 E. Mountain Ave., 484-7448 Fort Collins Museum of Discovery www.fcmod.org 408 Mason Ct., 221-6738 The Gardens on Spring Creek www.fcgov.com/gardens 2145 Centre Ave., 416-2486 Horse & Dragon Brewing Company www.horseanddragonbrewing.com 124 Racquette Dr., 631-8038 The Lincoln Center www.lctix.com 417 W. Magnolia St., 221-6730 Maxline Brewing www.maxlinebrewing.com 2724 McClelland Dr. #190 286-2855 New Belgium Brewing Company www.newbelgium.com 500 Linden St., 221-0524 Nuance Chocolate www.nuancechocolate.com 214 Pine St., 484-2330 Odell Brewing Company www.odellbrewing.com 800 E. Lincoln Ave., 498-9070 Otter Shop www.otterproducts.com 151 W. Mountain Ave. 825-5650
Peritus Coffee Roasters www.perituscoffee.com 1833 E. Harmony, Unit 20 877-729-0911 Snooze AM Eatery www.snoozeeatery.com/ locations/foco/ 144 W. Mountain Ave., 482-9253 Snowbank Brewing www.snowbank.beer 225 N. Lemay Ave., Ste. 1 999-5658 Whole Foods Market www.wholefoodsmarket.com/ stores/fortcollins 2201 S. College Ave., 267-9200 Wolverine Farm Letterpress & Publick House www.wolverinefarm.org 316 Willow St., 682-2590 The Wright Life www.wrightlife.com 200 Linden St., 484-6932
GREELEY
Aunt Helen’s Coffee House www.AuntHelens CoffeeHouse.com 800 8th Ave., Ste. 101, 324-9336
Cranford Cove Tea Tavern www.cranfordstea.com 823 10th St., 515-2664 Kress Cinema and Lounge www.kresscinema.com 817 8th Ave., 515-5717
LOVELAND
Benson Sculpture Garden www.sculptureinthepark.org 2908 Aspen Dr., 663-2940 Chapungu Sculpture Park www.chapunguatcenterra.com Sky Pond Dr., 962-9990
LAPORTE
Me Oh My Coffee and Pie www.meohmypie.com 3310 W. CR 54G, 817-2252
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OTHER BIKE FRIENDLY BUSINESSES
Advanced Micro Devices www.amd.com Broadcom www.broadcom.com
Growcentia www.growcentia.com HBC | SLBA www.hbc-slba.com Health District of Northern Larimer County www.healthdistrict.org
The Coloradoan www.coloradoan.com Colorado State University www.colostate.edu Data Splice www.datasplice.com Dohn Construction www.dohnconstruction.com Dresser-Rand Enginuity www.dresser-rand.com Equinox Brewing Co. www.equinoxbrewing.com Front Range Internet, Inc. www.frii.com Fort Collins Veterinary Emergency Hospital www.vetemergencyandrehab. com
Hewlett Packard www.hp.com In-Situ Inc. www.in-situ.com National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation (USDA) www.ars.usda.gov/plainsarea/fort-collins-co
RB&B Architects www.rbbarchitects.com
Neuworks Mechanical, Inc. www.neuworksmechanical. com
Terracon Consulting www.terracon.com
OtterBox www.otterbox.com Platte River Power Authority www.prpa.org
Steinborn Organ Services www.steinbornorgans.com
UC Health, Poudre Valley Hospital www.uchealth.org U.S. Forest Service, Arapaho & Roosevelt NF www.fs.usda.gov
Trebuchet Group www.trebuchetgroup.com
VanMeveren Law Group, P.C. www.vanmeverenlaw.com
Trinity Lutheran Church www.trinitylutheranfc.org
Water Pik, Inc. www.waterpik.com
The Town Church www.thetownchurch.org
Woodward, Inc. www.woodward.com
Nick Heimann
Nick Heimann crashed head first into the cycling world. The first day of his freshman college classes, in the middle of a campus crowd, he crashed into a coed, causing an embarrassing scene. Then, adding insult to injury, his bike was stolen. He didn’t ride again until he moved to Fort Collins to attend grad school at CSU. He thought to himself, “I’m in Fort Collins, the city of bikes, beer and bands, and I want to encourage population health. Encouraging beer drinking is probably not the best way to do that. So, I’ll go with bikes.” With a master’s degree in public health and as FC Bikes program specialist, his life now revolves around bikes, as he coordinates the City of Fort Collins Bike to Work Day and Open Streets events, and models two-wheeled transportation by commuting by bike. “When I’m out on my bike, riding to work or wherever, I want people to realize you don’t need a fancy bike, special clothes or need to ride 100 miles to appreciate that riding a bike solely for transportation can be convenient, easy and safe. Traveling by bike is such a unique way to experience a place.”
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Favorite place to ride: Any of Fort Collins’ paved multi-use trails, on one of its on-street routes or exploring a quiet neighborhood.
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GUIDE TO NORTHERN COLORADO BICYCLING CULTURE AND EVENTS
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Peloton offers full bike service of any brand of bike including Road, Mountain, E-bikes, kids bikes and everything in between.
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BIKE-FRIENDLY BUZZ COOL GEAR AND GADGETS BICYCLING MAYOR IN NOCO?
2018 GUIDE TO NORTHERN COLORADO BICYCLING CULTURE & EVENTS
Local Food and Farm Guide
Pots and plots— YOUR GUIDE TO
FARMERS MARKETS AND FARM STANDS
Healthful food SERVED AT SCHOOLS
Shop
PREPARING YOUR GARDEN
Mindfulness and your health
L-O-C-A-L
PIT STOPS
Finding your passions
FIELD TRIPS
Destinations and wayside breaks
BY BIKE
Sample a local craft
beer
MEET A FARMER
AT A FARM STAND
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THE 2018
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THE BIKE DIRECTORY GUIDE TO NORTHERN COLORADO BICYCLING CULTURE AND EVENTS
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To Advertise, contact: Greg at 970-689-6832
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GUIDE TO NORTHERN COLORADO BICYCLING CULTURE AND EVENTS
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Shifting
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2018 TOUR DE FAT
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FIESTA DE MOVIMIENTO COMUNITARIO DE HICKORY STREET, FORT COLLINS
PHOTO BY BOB HUTSON
PHOTO COURTESY CITY OF FORT COLLINS
2018 WINTER BIKE TO WORK, FORT COLLINS
2019 POLAR PEDAL IN GREELEY
TEAM B.O.B. BABES ON BIKES
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TURN AROUND BIKES SHOP TEAM
CERVELO-ROCKY MOUNTAIN MULTI SPORT RIDE
HOMEWARD ALLIANCE BIKE TEAM REPAIR DAY AT HARVEST FARM AND THE MURPHY CENTER 42
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PHOTO BY RICHARD LYNN
GIRLS GONE POLO COMPETE IN BICYCLE POLO IN BUENA VISTA
THE TWEED RUN 2018
PHOTO BY AGGIE HOLER
PEDALCLUB RIDING THE NEW TRAIL SYSTEM IN LOVELAND
OVERLAND MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION IN CRESTED BUTTE
FORT COLLINS CYCLING CLUB TUESDAY NIGHT RIDE GUIDE TO NORTHERN COLORADO BICYCLING CULTURE AND EVENTS
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THE 2019
BIKE CALENDAR Events
ONE OFFS
WEEKLY
Participate in fun, encouraging, educational bicycle-related activities and events during the month of June. www.fcgov.com/bicycling www.GreeleyBikes.com www.cityofloveland.org/BikeLoveland
JUNE Colorado Bike Month
WEDNESDAYS Ladies Night @ Source Endurance Training Center of the Rockies
Indoor training sessions. Source Endurance Training Center of the Rockies, 1833 E. Harmony Rd., FC. www.source-e.net/trainingcenter-of-the-rockies.
MONTHLY
NoCo Bike Show
A live-audience talk show for local bike news and updates. Check website for dates, times, locations. www.bikefortcollins.org MARCH THROUGH OCTOBER Trail Work Days
Get dirty with Overland Mountain Bike Club members as they build and maintain trails throughout northern Colorado. Check website for days, times, locations. www.overlandmtb.org MARCH THROUGH AUGUST The Hex Wenches
A bicycle werk night for FTW (femme/trans/ women) people. Fort Collins Bike Co-op, 1501 N. College Ave., FC 970-484-3804, www.fcbikecoop.org
MARCH 24 THROUGH 25 Crew Leader Training for Trails
Leadership training for trail construction and maintenance. $20; free for members of Overland Mountain Bike Club, Wildlands Restoration Volunteers and Colorado Addicted Trailbuilders Society. www.wlrv.net/index.hp?section=events &action=list&type= trainings#event2426
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K-12 students bike to school to celebrate active transportation. Check with your school for special activities. www.fcgov.com/saferoutes www.walkbiketoschool.org MAY 20 McKee Classic Bike Tour
A beautiful ride in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, this pedal-at-your-own pace community tour offers four scenic routes (10, 30, 37 and 62 miles) and family fun. McKee Medical Center, 2000 N. Boise Ave., LV. Â www.mckeefoundation.com MAY 20 Tour de Coop
MARCH 26 Overland Mountain Bike Club Season Kickoff Party
A 6- to 8-mile bike ride from coop to coop around Fort Collins. Learn about chickens from beak to butt from experienced backyard chicken owners. $25/adult; $15/child. 8:30am-1:30pm www.sustainablelivingassociation.org
APRIL 30 THROUGH JUNE 27 2018 Bike-to-Work Challenge
JUNE 2 Spring Take-a-Kid Mountain Biking Day Free event for kids of all ages! Location TBD.
Hear about all the great things planned for 2018! The Agave Room at The Rio, 149 W. Mountain Ave., FC. 6:30-9pm. www.overland.org
Participate in this eight-week event to promote biking to work by competing with other Colorado organizations. www.goo.gl/iAJqVB
www.thecupboard.com
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MAY 9 National Bike to School Day
GUIDE TO NORTHERN COLORADO BICYCLING CULTURE AND EVENTS
www.overlandmtb.org
JUNE 2 National Trails Day
Join others to work on local trails. A Loveland Bike Month activity. Oxbow Natural Area, 1135 Rossum Dr., LV www.cityofloveland.org/BikeLoveland JUNE 8 Night on the Town and Bicycle Bonanza on 4th Street
A Loveland Bike Month activity. www.cityofloveland.org/BikeLoveland
JUNE 9 Northwest Loveland Art by Bike Guided Tour
A Loveland Bike Month activity. www.cityofloveland.org/BikeLoveland JUNE 16 Open Streets
Come Ride the Route during a day of car-free, family friendly streets with free music, art, more. Location TBD. 10am-3pm 416-2628, www.fcgov.com/openstreets
JUNE 16 Downtown History and Architecture by Bike Guided Tour
A Loveland Bike Month activity. www.cityofloveland.org/BikeLoveland
JUNE 23 Downtown Loveland Art by Bike Guided Tour
A Loveland Bike Month activity. www.cityofloveland.org/BikeLoveland JUNE 24 Bike to Church Day
AUGUST (DATE TBD) Back to School Sale
Kick off the school year with a rebuilt bike or buy an “As Is” bike and fix it yourself. Fort Collins Bike Co-op, 1501 N. College Ave., FC 970-484-3804, www.fcbikecoop.org AUGUST 3 Fort Collins Fondofest
Family ride and gravel grinder. Benefits Safe Routes to School. www.focofondo.com AUGUST 12 Wanda’s Ride
A Loveland Bike Month activity. www.cityofloveland.org/BikeLoveland
The 6th annual fundraiser for Wanda Roche, paralyzed from a cycling accident. Prices vary. Start at Ryan’s Sports Grill, 925 E. Harmony Rd., FC. 7:30am-2pm. www.fccycleclub.org
JUNE 27 Bike to Work Day
Ride your bike to work and fuel up at free breakfast stations located in NoCo communities. www.fcgov.com/bicycling www.GreeleyBikes.com www.cityofloveland.org/BikeLoveland
SEPTEMBER 9 Open Streets
Come Ride the Route during a day of car-free, family-friendly streets with free music, art, more. Location TBD. 10am-3pm. 416-2628 www.fcgov.com/openstreets SEPTEMBER 29 Fall Take-a-Kid Mountain Biking Day
Free event for kids of all ages! Part of 2018 Tooth or Consequences MTB Festival. Lory State Park, FC. 9am-12noon. www.overlandmtb.org
Deb Homan
Deb Homan found her balance on a garage-sale two-wheeler special. When her dad removed its training wheels, Homan headed down the street and felt like she was flying—and she’s been flying on bikes ever since. Her first “real” bicycle was a copper-colored Schwinn Varsity Sport 10-speed with drop handlebars. She rode it home from the bike shop with her mom following close behind in the family car. Homan confesses she wasn’t wearing a helmet, “but hey, it was the ‘70s.” Since then, she’s pedaled thousands of miles for fitness, transportation, freedom, exploration, competition, friends and fun—donning a helmet, of course. Her current favorite type of riding is on gravel roads.
COMMUNITY PROFILE
Homan says northern Colorado is a great place to cycle. “It’s not without issues due to growth and distracted drivers, but more often than not I find myself noticing something new on rides and smiling. ‘Was that old shack always there? Why didn’t I see it before?’ ‘Did you see the deer?’ ‘Look at that—I’m going faster than the speed limit!’” Fly on! Favorite ride: Green Glade Reservoir/Masonville, Horsetooth and Carter Lake
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SEPTEMBER 29 THROUGH 30 Tooth or Consequences MTB Festival
Saturday is Fest Day with demos, poker ride, contests, music and food. Sunday features a seven-stage MTB race. Lory State Park and Horsetooth Mountain Open Space, FC www.tocmtbfest.com, www.overlandmtb.org OCTOBER 3 (TENTATIVE) Bike Projects Fair
Learn about the bike-related projects and programs Fort Collins has planned for 2019. Location and time TBD. www.fcgov.com/bicycling DECEMBER 12 Winter Bike to Work Day
Warm up with a free breakfast when you ride your bike to work in Fort Collins. www.fcgov.com/bicycling
Rides
SATURDAYS Loveland Cycling Club Group Rides
Cyclists of all abilities welcome. Ride start locations vary. 10am. www.lovelandcyling.org
Saturday Morning Rides Hosted by Rocky Mountain Recumbents
No-drop policy rides with refreshments after. Use of recumbents available on a first-come first-served basis. Gather at 9:30am; rides leave by 10am. 1901 Sharp Point Dr., Ste. E, FC. www.rockymountainrecumbents.com SUNDAYS, MID-MARCH THROUGH OCTOBER Sunday Funday Road Ride
Intermediate pace 15-17 mph average. Leave from Lee’s Cyclery North, 202 W. Laurel St., FC. 10am. www.fortfollies.com
MONTHLY RIDES
APRIL THROUGH OCTOBER RAT Rides
WEEKLY RIDES
WEDNESDAYS, MARCH THROUGH OCTOBER Overland Mountain Bike Club Social Rides
Monthly Rides Around Town (RAT) with Bike Fort Collins. Check website for dates, times, start locations. www.BikeFortCollins.org
No-drop group rides every Wednesday evening, weather and trail conditions permitting. All abilities welcome! Locations and times vary. www.overlandmtb.org
ONE OFF RIDES
APRIL 13 THROUGH 15 Overland Mountain Bike Club Destination Ride
Weekend riding and camping trip. Lake Pueblo State Park/Canon City. www.overlandmtb.org MAY 18 THROUGH 20 Overland Mountain Bike Club Destination Ride
Weekend riding and camping trip. North Fruita Desert/18 Rd., Fruita, CO www.overlandmtb.org JUNE 8 THROUGH 10 Overland Mountain Bike Club Destination Ride
Weekend riding and camping trip. Glendo State Park, Glendo, WY. www.overlandmtb.org JUNE 10 Ride to Benefit Meals on Wheels
30-, 70- and 100-mile fully supported charity rides benefiting Meals on Wheels Loveland and Berthoud, plus a fun family ride route and family friendly entertainment. 7am. www.active.com/ loveland-co/cycling/the-lovelandchallenge-2018
Bob Hutson
As he rides past the farms in Weld County, the aroma of crops and thinking about the lives they sustain adds to the fulfillment of Bob Hutson’s experiences from road riding. When he returns to Greeley, the aroma of coffee in Aunt Helen’s Coffee House, which he owns and runs with his wife, Aimee, brings his rides full circle. He says, “When we opened the shop, we were looking for ways to support and give back to our community, as well as find ways to bring more awareness and safety to cycling in Greeley and the Weld county roadways.” They are achieving that goal by offering a bike-friendly destination for other cyclists riding around or through Greeley, and by being involved with all of the city’s bike-related events. Beyond a good cup o’ joe, Hutson gets revved up from “...the freedom attached to being on the open road, the challenge to get more efficient or faster, and the comradery of cycling with good friends.” Favorite pit stop: Aunt Helen’s Coffee Shop, of course
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JUNE 12 Discovery Bay Family Ride
Casual 3-5-mile bike ride for the whole family. 715 E. 24th St., GR. 7-8pm www.GreeleyBikes.com
AUGUST 10 Pheasant Run Family Ride
Casual 3-5-mile bike ride for the whole family. 4620 3rd St., GR. 7-8pm www.GreeleyBikes.com
SEPTEMBER 21 THROUGH 23 Overland Mountain Bike Club Destination Ride
Weekend riding and camping trip. Steamboat Springs, CO. www.overlandmtb.org
JUNE 23 THROUGH 30 Bicycle Tour of Colorado
AUGUST 11 Moon Light Ride
SEPTEMBER 29 Open Streets
JUNE 28 Poudre River Trail Full Moon Ride
AUGUST 16 THROUGH 19 Overland Mountain Bike Club Destination Ride
AUGUST 26 OCTOBER 11 THROUGH 14 Overland Mountain Bike Club Destination Ride
Fully supported seven-day road/camping tour through the Colorado Rockies. Prices vary. Start at Lake County High School, 1000 W. 4th St. Leadville. www.BicycleTourColorado.com
Ride round trip 20-25 miles or as far as you like. Riders under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Lights and helmets required. Trailhead TBD. GR. www.GreeleyBikes.com JULY 13 Farr Park Family Ride
A 10.25-mile moonlit ride. Helmets and lights required. Minimum riding age is 12. 2875 W. 10th St., GR. 8pm www.GreeleyBikes.com
Weekend riding and camping trip. Crested Butte, CO. www.overlandmtb.org AUGUST 26 Poudre River Trail Full Moon Ride
Casual 3-5-mile bike ride for the whole family. 2610 13th Ave., GR. 7-8pm. www.GreeleyBikes.com
Ride round trip 20-25 miles or as far as you like. Riders under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Lights and helmets required. Trailhead TBD. GR. www.GreeleyBikes.com
JULY 27 THROUGH 29 Overland Mountain Bike Club Campout
AUGUST 26 6th Annual Redneck Ride for Parkinson’s
Weekend riding and camping trip. Curt Gowdy State Park, 1264 Granite Springs Rd. Cheyenne, WY. www.overlandmtb.org
A 24-mile ride from Stove Prairie to Loveland. Lunch provided. Donations to benefit Parkinson’s patients. Sign up with Rocky Mountain Recumbents at 221-4838. www.rockymountainrecumbents.com
Come Ride the Route during a day of car-free, family friendly streets with free music, art, more. Location TBD. 10am-3pm. 416-2628 www.fcgov.com/openstreets
Weekend riding and camping trip. Moab, Utah. www.overlandmtb.org
Races Your Group Ride
Check www.yourgroupride.com for road and mountain bike races in NoCo. JULY 28 Laramie Enduro MTB Race
One of the nation’s premier endurance mountain bike races. Various age categories and entry fees. Volunteer or race. Headquarters Road (FS 707), about a 20-min. drive southeast of Laramie, WY. 7am
Dee Amick
When you’re a devoted, year-round bicycle commuter, you run the risk of people feeling sorry for you. Dee Amick has experienced that. She and her husband haven’t owned a car since their daughter (who’s now 11 and coming into her own as a bike commuter) was born. “Our experience has been that folks offer up their cars, offer rides and generally corrupt our car-free lifestyle with a long-term vehicle loan.” From a young child, after being bribed with a Popsicle to give it a go, Amick has loved cycling. Not even knocking out a tooth when she wrecked while riding a friend on her handlebars could take the air out of her will to ride. Her two-wheeled adventures include pedaling through West Africa, commuting in Worcester, Mass, with its insane roundabouts where six or seven streets converge, and racking up thousands of miles annually getting around northern Colorado.
COMMUNITY PROFILE
Reason to ride: Because bikes are utilitarian and breezy, all at the same time.
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www.laramieenduro.org
SEPTEMBER 15 Stone Temple 8 Endurance MTB Race
An eight-hour individual or team MTB race. Kids and adults. Curt Gowdy State Park 1264 Granite Springs Rd. Cheyenne, WY. www.overlandmtb.org SEPTEMBER 30 Tooth or Consequences MTB Race
A MTB race with seven timed stages featuring punchy climbs and epic descents. Part of the Tooth or Consequences MTB Festival. Lory State Park and Horsetooth Mountain Open Space, FC. www.tocmtbfest.com, www.overlandmtb.org
Classes Bicycle Friendly Driver
Learn about traffic laws and responsibilities for both cyclists and motorists, shared responsibilities, and how to avoid crashes or conflicts. Free. Ages 16+. Register online. Check website for more class dates. www.fcgov.com/bicycling/bike-friendly-driverprogram.php Everyday Cycling
Safe Cycling
Cycling with Children
Women on a Roll
Learn what to ride, what to wear, what to carry, how to carry stuff, route selection and safety techniques when you want to bike for every day transportation. Check website for class dates. www.bicycleambassadorprogram.org Learn about the benefits of cycling with kids, including, kid-friendly gear, safety considerations, route selection, and how to teach children the rules of the road. Check website for class dates. www.bicycleambassadorprogram.org Cycle Touring Basics
Prepare to pedal to your next vacation destination. Learn about bikes used for touring, panniers, trailers, camping equipment and clothing. Check website for class dates. www.bicycleambassadorprogram.org
Build confidence and learn skills to ride safely and legally on streets or trails. Classes on April 17 and 20 with registration deadlines of April 10 and 13. Ages 13+. $20 350-9400, www.greeleyrec.com For women interested in bicycling. Learn about women-specific clothing and gear, where to ride, tips for biking with kids, safety tips, and how to connect with local women’s cycling clubs and organizations. Check website for more class dates. www.bicycleambassadorprogram.org Cycling in Winter
Learn tips and techniques to help you ride safely, confidently and comfortably in the winter. Check website for class dates. www.bicycleambassadorprogram.org
Jon Smail
“It’s insanely satisfying to do activities by bike...or for bikes,” says Jon Smail. From building bike trails and ramps with his twin brother as kids, to working on a Master’s degree in urban and regional planning at CU Denver, to serving as a Greeley City Council member who’s excited about that community’s planned bike and trail projects, his enthusiasm for cycling is palpable.
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When he goes by bike, Smail feels he’s doing good for society, the environment and his body. “When my wife and I purchased our first home, we intentionally bought in a neighborhood that would allow us the opportunity to bike to work, the grocery store, a brewery, a restaurant, but most importantly to Downtown Greeley. I might be the only council member to ride my bike to City Hall, meet constituents for coffee, etc. It’s extremely satisfying to leave my car at home all day. I see it as a total win and feel bikes connect people in a special way.” Favorite pit stop: Any local coffee shop.
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| THE LAST MILE | JESSY NELSON
Biking from homelessness
to home
PERSEVERING THROUGH LIFE’S CHALLENGES AND ADVENTURES WHEN I WAS A CHILD, my grandfather and I would often go for bike rides, meandering on a creekside trail, enjoying the pace of life on two wheels. While that’s how my bike story began, it developed it’s definitive—fateful even—path when I became homeless in high school. The summer before my senior year on a sunny afternoon, I briskly walked out of my family’s home never to return to live there again. My decision to leave was driven by an instinct to protect myself. And it drove me to my bike. With only the clothes on my back, I pedaled away on my little, blue Specialized Sirrus bike across east Greeley. For the next seven months I rode my bike 20 miles a day—to school, to work, from couch to couch. Eventually, one of
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my teachers invited me to live with her and her family for the remainder of my last year of high school. During that time when my life was like one bruising endo over the handlebars after another, my bike was my steady, dependable companion—a refuge from life’s storms. And that bike, paired with the kindness of my teacher, saved me. Those sweaty, bike-filled months opened my eyes to see the potential inside myself that I didn’t know existed until I had nothing. I learned that no amount of clothes, no gear, no family and no social stigmas can negate a person’s value or potential. The lessons I learned those many years ago influenced where I am now. Today, I race road and cyclocross with a women’s cycling team I founded called NoCo
GUIDE TO NORTHERN COLORADO BICYCLING CULTURE AND EVENTS
Women’s Cycling Team. I also coordinate Turn Around Bikes, a nonprofit bike shop, where I lead mechanic workshops for atrisk and high-risk teens, and run a program I established to teach them how to race. Some of the teens I work with are currently living through circumstances similar to what I experienced that summer when I was homeless on my bike. Many of them, however, face far bigger obstacles than I ever faced. My goal in introducing these students to bikes and racing is to help them find their potential that they can then transfer to the hard circumstances in their lives. I believe that taking on challenges on bikes— complete with falling down and getting up and back in the saddle again—is the perfect way to learn
how to get up when life knocks you down. I believe learning to think positively about oneself when the grind starts in and how to muster strength to master steep uphill climbs and sail through scary descents is how a bike can offer practice in persevering through life’s difficulties. For seven months as a homeless teen, I rode my bike and had many adventures and took many falls. For the last seven years, my bikes and I have had the privilege to grow and continue my life’s journey. Seven years from now, my hope is that all my students and teammates can say they have experienced the magic of a bike and the miracle of pedaling past each of their own versions of a homeless summer. And I hope bikes will always bring me home.
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GUIDE TO NORTHERN COLORADO BICYCLING CULTURE AND EVENTS